Controlling mechanism for cocoon-spinning machines



90314130, 1929? O s. a; CARNOVALI ET AL 1, 11,03

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR COCOON SPINNING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1928 6/0. 3:22 :52 [arm/ 10211 42,40 flnzmz'a farnwdzl' Lvenzars:

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIOVANNI BATTISTA CABNOVALI AND ANTONIO CARNOVALI, OF .BELLANO, ITALY.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR GOGOON-SPINNING MACHINES.

Application filed February 10, 1928, Serial No. 253,457, and in Italy 1111122, 1927.

Machines of various types for automatically spinning silk cocoons are known which comprise devices for obtaining strands of constant size. In the earliest forms, the feed ot. the cocoons is obtained by devices which enter into play when the strand just formed loses in strength on account 01' the breakage of one of its threads or when one or more cocoons have been completely exhausted. The draw-hack of such machines is that the inultiple-thread or strand thus obtained shows. in considerable lengths, variations in size at each change-over oi. cocoons.

Other more modern machines are providei'l with niechar operating when a cocoon escapes from t e cluster and becomes e11- .e'aged in a suitable device. w ile others are based on the disturbance caused by the escaped cocoon in the hydrmlyuamic equilibrium of a circulating liquid. In these latter devices. the time lapsiug between the instant of breaking awav of a cocoon and the hookiugaip oi. a fresh thread is shorter. but not to such an extent as to provide a practically wen-sized strand.

The present invention has for its object an improved mechanism for automatically controlling the feed of the cocoon cluster in sills-spinning machines: the special feature of such mechanism or device being its practirtl.l.vinstantaneous operation, which can be obtained with means usually controlled by the tension of the cocoon threads and suitable for actuating devices which secure the proper feeding of the cluster, when the tension oi at lea one of the threads falls to the point where it inadequate either through breale age or through exhaustion or else because the thread becomes too thin.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example and in a somewhat diagram urilic manner. a vertical. sectional view of a practical embodiment of the invention: one of the rocker arms being represented inv its normal position. and another arm being represented in the position which it assumes when the associated thread breaks or slackens.

The device constituting the invention is u iouutod to operate in. a spinni 11g basin which receives the cocoons; and in the embodiment illustratorh 1 indicates a horizontal disk secured to the upper end of a vertical sleeve 2 which looselv encircles a hollow vertical shaft, 3. This shaft 3 is constantly driven at a unit-twin epeed by gearing which is re resented diagrammatically and is generally designated 4; said gearing including a shaft 4: connected to a suitable source of power.

A Vertically-movable sleeve 5 is disposed within the relatively-stationary outer sleeve 2 and extends'loosely into the upper portion of shaft 3, and it carries adjacent its upper end a ring or spider 6, project outward through slots 2 in sleeve 2. The movements of sleeve arecontrolled by 111eans of a linkage 7 extending through shaft 3 and connected to said sleeve and to alever 8 which is fulcrumed at one end at 9 and provided at the other end with a weight 10; the arrangement being such that the downward movement of the lever influencedby weigh t 10 will pull said sleeve in the same direction. Resetting of said lever to raised position is effected by an eccentric 11.

The disk 1 has margmal. edge a set of rocker arms 12 corresponding in number to the number of cocoons 13 in the cluster, and each. of these rocker arms is engaged at its upper end 'with the thread 14. from the associated cocoon; the several threads passing to the central aperture 15 of a rose 16. and thence, via the twisting or condensing device 17 to a feeding device or mechanism (not shown) 1 which may he of any usual or suitable character. The aperture 15 is disposed in line with the a. s of disk 1 and of the parts 2. 3 and 5; and the tension which is normally imposed on the threads by the device 17is such that the upper ends-of the rocker arms 12 are swung inward. The arms are so shaped that. when free. they tend to assume the position shown. in the ease of the right-hand arm. in dotted lines; whereas. when subjected to the normal tension. of the threads, they are rocked into the position represented in full lines for the right-hand arm.

As has already been stated, the hollow shaft 3 is subjected to a constant or continuous rotation. at uniform speed by means of the geariug 4. Theouter sleeve 2 which carries the disk 1 is spaced from the shaft 3. as is also the inner sleeve 5 to which the spider 6 is attached, so that under ordinary conditions the two sleeves and the disk and spider are stationary. Now. the arms 12 rock automatieally. due to the ofl'set shape and superior weight of their lower portions. when the tension oi the cocoon threads falls below a predetermined degree from any cause, and in ardener when the thread nacho-1s the arms 6 oi. which pivoted to itacljacent its is released from its thread strikes breaks; one feature of our invention residing in the employment oft this return movement of the rocker arms to couple their carrier disk 1 to the rotating shaft 3 to be driven thereby. Accordingly, we provide'said shatt with a coupling element 18, here shown as a crown wheel fixed to the shaft, the teeth 19 of which are engaged by the lower end of a rocker arm when the COITIQEHQOIldlDg thread loosens or breaks. lVhen this occurs, the outer sleeve 2 and its disk 1 will be coupled to the shaft 3 to rotate therewith, and the inner sleeve 5 will likewise be rotated, since the arms 6 of its spider project through the slots 2 in sleeve 2.

The rotation of the parts 2, 1 and 12 is utilizedto effect the automatic tripping ot' the lever 8, which latter is normally retained in raised position by a catch 21 in the form of a hell-crank lever that is subjected to the action of a retractile coil spring 22 attached to a stationary part of the apparatus. The upper or horizontal arm of the bell-crank is operatively connected to a ring 23 that loosely encircles the crown wheel 18; and this ring 23 is provided on its upper edge with a single projecting lug or member 2 1 that is disposed in the path of the end 20 of the rocker arm coupled to the crown wheel. Hence, as the rotation of the crown wheel proceeds, the aforesaid arm end 20 will strike against this projection and thereby impart a rotary shitting movement to ring 23 which will serve to rock the bell-crank. The latter has a hook 25 at the lower end of its vertical arm across which the lever 8 extends and is supported, and this hook is withdrawn by the rocking movement of the bell-crank ust mentioned, so that lever 8 then falls instantly, due to the provision of weight 10, carrying down with it a lever 26 which likewise underlies lever 8 and which is connected to control the device (not shown) that effects the substitution ot' a fresh cocoon for the exhausted or detached cocoon. The rotary movement of ri. 2?) oi com nlrativcly slight extent, and that of the carrier 1 at most will not exceed one revolution before the rocker arm 12 which against the projection 24. The speed of rotation of the crown wheel is so calculated that the sub stitution ot the fresh cocoon will take place practically instantly.

In addition to operating the controlling lever 26, the downward n'lovement ot' lever 8 is utilized to ettect the disengagement 031' the rocker arm (or arms, it more than one be engaged) from the crown wheel 18, as well as the arm engaged with projection 2st. This action takes place through the agency of the linkage 7 which pulls the inner sleeve 5 downward, whereupon the spider G will be caused to strike against the engaged rocker arm with its beveled outer edge 6 and cam the same outward as the spider descends. The eccentric 11 may then be actuated to lift lever 8 into its normal position and reengage it with the bell-crank hook 25 ready for another operation.

In order to prevent a defective or faulty action of the structure in case the twisted strand breaks after passing beyond the condensing or twisting device 17, an accessory devi e is provided to block the movement at the rocker arms 12 into rngagement with wheel 18. Such device is here shown as com- 'n'ising a second ring 27 which surrounds the ring 23 and has an appreciably greater diameter, so that a substantial space separates the two rings. The ring 27 normally re upon the inner end of a centrally pivoted lever 251, the outer end of which is i'u'ticulatcd to the lower end of a vertical rod 25) provided at its top with a hook 305 and the latter is normally engaged with a hook 31 carried by a counterweighted roller over which the twisted strand 33 passes atter lea ring}; the tensioning or condensing device 1'7. Hence, it the strand 33 should break, the countcrwcighted roller 32 would turn in a direction to disengage its hook 31 from the hook on rod 29, whereupon the latter would fall and, in so doing, rock the lever 28 in a manner to lift up the blocking ring 27 far enough to project between the lowcr ends of the rocker arms and the teeth 19 ot the crown wheel 153.

it is to be understood that the reeling or other mechanism or device to which the twisted strand 33 passes from the roller 32, may be of any suitable or preferred character and, in any event, forms no part whatever of the invention itself. The same is equally true of the mechanism or device for substituting a fresh cocoon for an exhausted or escaped cocoon, and for that reason no illustration of these devices has been given, as it is entirely immaterial what form they may take in practice.

Vi e claim as our invention:

1. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines. a set of coupling members each norn'lally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a device to control the cocoon teed; a constantly-rotating element adapted to be coupled with said carrier to rotate the same. by the active movement ot a coupling member; and means actuated by the rotation 01 the carrier for effecting operation of the teed-controlling device.

2. In a ctmtrolling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a set of rockers each normally held against action by a tensiomul thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said rockers;

a device to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating element; means on said rotating element. for engagement by a rocker during its active movement to couplethe rotatin g element with said carrier to rotate the same; and means actuatedby the rotation of the carrier for cfl'ectingopcration of the feedcontrolling device.

In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a set of rockers each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension tails below a predetermined degree; a norlnallystationary carrier for said rockers; a device to control the cocoon feed; a consthutly-rotating shaft; a crown wheel fixed to said shaftand having teeth for engagement by a rocker during its active movement to couple the carrier to said crown wheel for rotation therewith; and means actuated by the rotation of the carrier for effecting operation of the feed-controlling device.

4-,. A controlling mechanism according to claim 3, in which the teeth of the crown wheel project laterally outward, and the rockers are mounted in vertical position and are adapted to engage said teeth at their lower ends.

5. A, controlling mechanism according to claim 3, in which the teeth of the crown wheel project laterally outward, and the rockers have ofi'set lower portions which cause them to swing inward automatically into engagement with said teeth.

6. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, av set of coupling members each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but autom atically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a device to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating element adapted to be engaged by a coupling member during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same; means actuated by the rotation of the carrier tor effecting operation of the feed-controlling device; and means for automatically disconnecting said coupling member from said rotating element after the carrier has completed a rotation of predetermined extent.

7. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a set of coupling members each normally held against action by a tcnsioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normallystationary carrier for said coupling members; a device to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating clement adapted to be engaged by a couplin member during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same; means actuated by the rotation of the carrier for effecting operation ofythe feed controlling device; a member for releasing the coupling member engaged with the rotating element; and means for automatically operating the releasing member after the carrier hascompleted a rotation of predetermined exten 8. In a controlling mechanism for 0000011 spinning nmchines, a set of coupling mem bers each normally held againstaction by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a device to control the cocoon feed; a constant]yd-otating element adapted to be engaged by a coupling member during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same; means actuated by the rotation of the carrier for effecting operation of the feedcontrolling device; a vcrtically-movable spider disposed between the coupling members for releasing the member engaged with the rotating element on downward movement of the spider; and meansfor automatically operating said spider after the carrier has completed a rotation of predetermined extent. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a set of coupling members each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, butautomatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a normally-inactive trip lever operable to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating element adapted to be engaged by a coupling member during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same; and means for automatically tripping said lever to enable its operation consequent upon the rotation of the carrier.

10 A controlling mechanism according to claim 9, in which the automatic tripping means comprise a catch normally engaged with the trip lever, and a movable member actuated by the engaged coupling member for disengaging said catch.

11. A controlling mechanism according to claim 9, in which the automatic trippin means comprise a catch normally engaged with the trip lever, and a shiftable ring loosely encircling the rotating element and actuated by the coupling member engaged with said element for disengaging said catch.

12. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a set of coupling members each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement whensuclrtension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally stationary carrier l or said coupling members; a normally-1nactive trip lever operable to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating element adapted to be engaged by a coupling mem her during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same; means for automatically tripping said lever consequent upon the rotation of the carrier; and means operated autoniiatically consequent upon the tripping of the lever for releasing the engaged coupling member from the rotating element.

13. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines. a set of coupling members each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon.,but automatical- 1y executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetermined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a normally-inactive trip lever operable to control the cocoon feed; a constantly-rotating element adapted to be engaged by a coupling member during its active movement and thereby coupled with said carrier to rotate the same ;'means for antomatically tripping said lever consequent upon the rotation of the carrier; a member for releasing the engaged coupling member from the rotating element; and a connection between the trip lever and releasing member for operating the latter when the former is tripped.

14. In a controlling mechanism for cocoon spinning machines, a lever operable to control the cocoon feed; means normally holding the lever against operation; a plurality of coupling members each normally held against action by a tensioned thread from a cocoon, but automatically executing its active movement when such tension falls below a predetern'iined degree; a normally-stationary carrier for said coupling members; a constantly-r0tating element :ulaptod to be coupled with saidcarrier to rotate the some by the active mowen'icnt of a coupling member; n'leans operable by the rotation of the carrier for releasing the control lever; means for twisting together the individual threads to form a tensioncd, 1nulti-thread strand; and means operated. automatically when the tension of the strand falls below a predetermined degree for blocking the coupling move- ;ment of the coupling members.

15. A controlling mechanism accorlfling to claim 14, in which the blocking means comprises a shiiltable ring and means for movin g it into position to prevent effective movement of the movable members.

16. A controlling mechanism according to claim 14-, in which the movable members con sists of? a series oi pivoted rockers and a support therefor; and in which the blocking means comprises a vertically-movable ring and means for moving it into position to prevent effective movement of the rockers.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

GIO BATTA OARNOVALI. ANTONIO CARNOVALI. 

